عَنْ أبي هُريرَةَ رضي اللَّه عَنْهُ أنَّ رَسُولَ اللّه صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم قال: «مَطْلُ الغَنِيِّ ظُلْمٌ، وَإذَا أُتبِعَ أحَدُكُمُ عَلى مَلِيءٍ فَلْيَتْبَع» متفقٌ عليه.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The procrastination (in repayment) of a wealthy person is an injustice; and when one of you is referred (for payment) to a solvent person, let him follow (the referral)." Agreed upon (al-Bukhari and Muslim).
الشرح · explanation
مطل الغني: أي تأخير ما استحق أداؤه مع التمكن منه. الغني: هو القادر المتمكّن على وفاء الدين. ظلم: أي لصاحب الدَّين في حال الاستحقاق وطلبه. أُتبِعَ: أُحِيلَ. على مَلِيءٍ: أي الغنيّ. فليتبع: فليقبل هذه الحوالة.
"Matl al-ghani (the procrastination of the wealthy)": that is, delaying what is due to be paid while being able to pay it. "Al-ghani (the wealthy)": he is the one able and capable of settling the debt. "Zulm (an injustice)": that is, against the creditor when (the debt) is due and he demands it. "Utbi'a (is referred)": is transferred (for payment). "Ala malin (to a solvent person)": that is, the wealthy one. "Fal-yatba' (let him follow)": let him accept this transfer (of the debt).
الدروس · lessons
تحريم تأجيل الغنيّ دفع ما استحق عليه من دين ونحوه من غير عذر عند المطالبة. الأمر بقبول الحوالة، إذا كان مطل الغني ظلمًا فليقبل من يحال بدينه عليه. أنّ المؤمن من شأنه أن يحترز عن الظلم فلا يمطل. الدعوة إلى حسن التعامل بين الناس.
The prohibition of a wealthy person delaying, without an excuse, the payment of what is due from him — a debt or the like — when it is demanded. The command to accept the transfer of a debt (hawalah): if the procrastination of the wealthy is an injustice, then let the one whose debt is transferred onto a (solvent person) accept it. It is the believer's way to guard against injustice, so he does not procrastinate. The call to good dealings among people.